A More Beautiful Bible

The typical Bible may be beautiful in its contents, but lacks a certain literary aesthetic. Margins (when they exist) are skimpy, the typical justified double columns lose the reader’s eye, notes distract, rarely-used numbers are everywhere, and the butterfly-thin pages seem to flutter away from the mind like the locusts of the prophet Joel. Little about the design or layout of our modern Scriptures inspires us as much as the contents do.

But a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign is changing that. “Bibliotheca,” from California designer Adam Lewis Greene, is a sleek modern 4-volume design (in the 1901 ASV) free of notes or visual distractions, and boasting a simple, original typeface. Design elements have been selected both for beauty and for symbolic meaning—for example, the pages measure according to the proportions of the Ark of the Covenant. As of the time of this writing, Greene’s project has smashed his original $37,000 goal with almost $580,000 raised—speaking both to the enduring power of Scripture to inspire, and to the longing for more literary beauty in how we approach the Book of Books.

Why Don’t We Preach About Body Image?

“I can only speculate about why church leaders are largely silent about body image. Perhaps it’s seen as a “women’s issue,” whereas the majority of pastors are men. Perhaps the topic is just too sensitive. Perhaps it speaks to a theology more concerned with the spirit than the body. Or perhaps it is an idol so entwined in Christian culture that we hardly even notice it … .

Since most pastors are men, and body image primarily impacts women, this can be tricky territory. Body image is a delicate issue fraught with shame, so it’s important to avoid framing the message as a rebuke. Instead, I would advise male pastors to consult with women before addressing the topic from the pulpit. Then, rather than issue a reprimand, consider offering them the biblical and theological tools they need to think Christianly about their bodies.”

—Sharon Hodde Miller, “Why Pastors Should Preach About Body Image,” via Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics site.

Servanthood or Codependency?

People like church staff and volunteers often confuse codependency with servanthood. A description of codependency can sound a lot like serving others. And service-oriented professions attract people who may not understand the difference.

But sometimes serving others is really about serving ourselves—and that’s when codependency enters the picture. People who are codependent serve to meet their own emotional needs and desires. They serve in ways that keep the people around them from growing, changing, and thriving. They serve and serve and serve, long past the point of health and true effectiveness, because they are addicted to what serving gives them: a sense of value, preservation of the status quo, dependency in others.

Serving others differs from serving others’ dysfunction. And sometimes true servanthood means refusing to participate in another person’s process of destroying self or others.”

—Leadership Journal senior editor Amy Simpson, in “When Service is Selfish,” on PARSE.

Three Organizations that Serve Persecuted Christians

Want to partner with persecuted Christians around the globe? Here are three organizations making a difference for brothers and sisters in violent or repressive regions. Find how you fit into this global story by visiting their websites, hearing the stories of suffering sisters and brothers, and considering how your church can support the persecuted:

Open Doors – Founded almost 60 years ago by “God’s Smuggler,” Brother Andrew, Open Doors is an international ministry serving persecuted Christians through Christian resources, advocacy, and practical/financial assistance. Offices worldwide. (opendoors.org)

International Christian Concern – Based in Washington, D.C., the ICC website is a great resource for breaking news related to the persecution of Christians. The organization is dedicated to advocacy, awareness, and assistance for suffering believers. (persecution.org)

Voice of the Martyrs – Also offering opportunities to learn about, support, and encourage suffering Christians, Voice of the Martyrs offers the opportunity to “Adopt a Front Line Worker,” by committing to pray or financially support a worker in a difficult region of the globe. (persecution.com)

Tracing Decline: Attendance, or Frequency?

Has the trend of declining attendance hit your church yet? Thom Rainer surmises that the drop in average attendance numbers might not be a simple as “they left.”

The number one reason for the decline in attendance is that members attend with less frequency than they did just a few years ago … If the frequency of attendance changes, then attendance will respond accordingly. For example, if 200 members attend every week, average attendance is 200. But if one-half of those members miss one out of four weeks, the attendance drops to 175.

Did you catch that? No members left the church. Everyone is still relatively active. But attendance declined more than 12 percent because half the members slightly changed their pattern.

This phenomenon can take place rather quickly, leaving leaders scratching their heads because the behavioral change is so slight it is almost imperceptible. We rarely notice when someone who attends four times a month fades to three times. Nor do we typically catch it when the twice-a-month attendee becomes a once-a-month attendee … . The heart of the problem is not declining numbers but waning commitment.

— Adapted from “The #1 reason for decline in church attendance,” posted at ChurchCentral.com

Thom Rainer’s 5 ways churches can respond to the trend:

1. Raise the expectations of membership

2. Require an entry class for membership

3. Encourage ministry involvement

4. Offer more options for worship times

5. Monitor the attendance of each member

Have you responded to declining attendance frequency?

We want to hear about what worked … or what didn’t.
Email us: ljeditor@christianitytoday.com.